Advocacy for Reproductive Justice

On January 23, 2017, President Trump reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy, also known as the Global Gag Rule because it silences critical speech necessary to provide health care to women overseas. The policy specifically conditions receipt of U.S. global health aid on a requirement that foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) certify that they will not even use their own funds to provide information, referrals, or services for legal abortion or to advocate for access to abortion services in their own country. In May of 2017, the State Department released guidance on the implementation of the expanded policy, and committed to conducting a six-month review of its impact on global health programs.

On August 1, 2017, IANGEL was proud to sign on to a statement of principles to ensure a critical review of the impact of this expanded policy, which severely restricts funding to global health programs that have saved and improved millions of lives around the globe. With the first six-month review approaching, the statement of principles sets forth recommendations for a review process that is comprehensive and meaningful, and it proposes an annual review to understand how the policy affects U.S. programs and their outcomes long-term. In addition, IANGEL is engaged in comprehensive legal research, providing analysis and guidance for challenging this dramatic suppression of speech related to reproductive health care for millions of women and girls.

IANGEL advocates for women and girls in redesign of the State Department and USAID.

On September 15, 2017, IANGEL joined with 45 NGOs focusing on empowerment of women and girls to provide input to the State Department and USAID for their redesign process. In a letteralso circulated to the Office of Management and Budget, the National Security Council, and several Congressional offices, we stress that investing in women and girls is vital to prosperous, stable, and peaceful communities and countries. Our coalition advocates using best practices and evidence to support efficiency and effectiveness, centering the needs and rights of the most marginalized and vulnerable communities such as women and girls, and promoting transparency. IANGEL is proud to join this effort to advocate that US foreign aid help create stable, inclusive, and free societies where the human rights of all are respected, protected, and fulfilled.